18th of May marks Somaliland’s self-proclaimed and unrecognised independence from the rest of Somalia. The 24th anniversary has been celebrated with a parade at the National Palace in Hargeisa with shops closing down for the day.

In 1992, the first refugees found a safe haven in Kakuma Refugee Camp in northern Kenya. Over 20 years later, the camp provides shelter to approximately 100,000 refugees from various countries. Officially, refugees are not allowed to work, but with help from relatives abroad some are able to provide a decent living for themselves and their family. But many survive day-to-day. Women are in a particularly vulnerable position; sexual and domestic violence are the order of the day.

The International War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague has acquitted former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commander and later prime-minister Ramush Haradinaj. He was found not guilty on war crimes and crimes against humanity, including, murder, rape, torture and persecution. KLA commander Idriz Balaj was also found not guilty, whereas KLA commander Lahi Brahimaj was sentenced to six years of prison for torture.